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Solomon Elimimian and Adam Bighill, punishers who can alter a game with a hit, have been challenged to do it — together — Saturday

Lions linebackers Solomon Elimimian (left) and Adam Bighill — shown at practice on Friday — have been good this season, but just not at the same time.

Photograph by: Jason Payne
, PNG

VANCOUVER — They have been brilliant individually in the Canadian Football League, but B.C. Lions linebackers Solomon Elimimian and Adam Bighill have not yet conjured their best as a tandem. Saturday would be a great day to start.

The Calgary Stampeders are the league’s top team, feature star running back Jon Cornish and can overpower defences with their physical, dominant offensive line. It is for opponents like this that the Lions shuffled their defence to get Elimimian and Bighill on the field together this season.

Elimimian was a CFL all-star in 2011, Bighill in 2012. Elimimian won the most outstanding rookie award in 2010, and Bighill should have been the league’s most outstanding defensive player last season. They are similarly fast, fierce, athletic playmakers — guys who close like cruise missiles and can change a football game with one hit. On Saturday night, against the Stampeders, it’s time for them to make a difference.

“We haven’t seen the best of them, by far,” Lions head coach Mike Benevides said Friday, ahead of Saturday’s West Division showdown at BC Place Stadium (6 p.m., TSN local standard-definition blacked out, Team 1040). “Not even close. They haven’t been healthy together. We were missing Solly in Week 1 and we lost Adam in the Toronto game (in Week 2). Last week, they started to get some momentum together. They’re getting closer.”

Elimimian, 26, and Bighill, 24, have been good this season — just not often at the same time. Elimimian missed the Lions’ dreadful 44-32 season-opening loss in Calgary because of a sore groin, and Bighill sprained his ankle the next week against Toronto and missed the following two games.

The close friends made it back on to the field together July 30 in Toronto, where Bighill’s uncharacteristic air tackle against Argos quarterback Zach Collaros on a touchdown play characterized the Lions’ 38-12 loss.

Bighill and Elimimian combined for 11 tackles 12 days ago against Winnipeg, but that 27-20 Lions win came against a Blue Bombers team ranked near the bottom of the CFL in just about every offensive category.

Led by Cornish, the Stampeders are first or second in most offensive statistics. Calgary is 5-1, B.C. 4-2.

“I think it’s more of a statement game for our whole team,” Bighill said. “Not just the defence, everybody. This is a game where we win and things get evened up a little bit and we move on with some momentum. Any time there’s a big-time player, you want to shut him down no matter who it is — receiver, quarterback or running back. Playing against Cornish, you want to hold him down. We’ve done it before and know what that takes.”

Shedding blocks and tackling strongly helps. B.C.’s front seven on defence, minus Elimimian, was beaten by Calgary blocking in the season opener. The Stampeders also owned the line of scrimmage in their 29-24 playoff upset of the Lions last November. It’s not just Elimimian and Bighill who are being challenged Saturday. But they’re the Lions on defence most capable of making an impact.

That was what Benevides and defensive coordinator Rich Stubler had in mind at training camp when they shifted Bighill, following a monster 120-tackle, nine-sack season at middle linebacker, to make room for Elimimian.

Elimimian was used mostly in a backup role after returning to the Lions halfway through last season, following a failed foray into the National Football League.

Bighill apprenticed behind Elimimian in 2011, when they became instant friends.

The move to outside linebacker has required an adjustment from Bighill, who has still managed 25 defensive tackles and a pair of quarterback sacks in 3½ games. Elimimian has 29 tackles in five games. Neither was among the CFL’s top seven tacklers through the first third of the season.

“It hasn’t been perfect,” Bighill said. “Obviously, being in the middle of things (at middle linebacker), you feel you’re right in the middle of the action. I do like that. But I’ve played outside linebacker before and I’ll do whatever is best for the team.

“I feel like we feed off each other. We both bring intensity to the field. It’s a great feeling when Solomon makes a play or I make a play — almost like nobody can run away from us.”

Cornish will try. After being contained by the Lions during the 2012 regular season, he ran for 112 yards in the Stampeders’ playoff win in Vancouver. Cornish torched the Lions for 172 yards seven weeks ago.

“I feel like Adam is playing at a great level and I’m playing at a great level,” Elimimian said. “I feel we compliment each other and we’re playing solid together. (But) I feel like we’re just hitting our stride. I feel great players always want to get better (and) I don’t think I’m playing at the level where I can play.

“Obviously, he’s changing positions and me coming back and reasserting myself, it takes a couple of games. But I feel this is the time we’ve got to take it to the next level and be dominant. I like where we’re headed.”

POINT AFTER: The Lions staged a surprising, quick kick Friday, punting Hugh O’Neill after becoming frustrated at the lack of progress in contract talks with the 23-year-old kicker. Drafted 11th overall by the Lions in 2011 and groomed for two seasons to eventually replace veteran Paul McCallum, O’Neill and his beard will be looking for a new CFL home. B.C. added former Okanagan Sun junior kicker Steven Shott to its practice roster.

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